124 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



of the ring, and the new mob of men and women go and pitch 

 their camp. If they had left any baggage behind when they 

 came in sight, they would go back and bring it up. The novices, 

 if any, in the new mob go with the women. The fathers of the 

 novices have a mark of red paint on their foreheads or faces, so 

 that the men at the camp may see them, and by this means learn 

 at a glance how many new boys have been brought in this 

 contingent. If a man have two sons to be initiated, he will have 

 two marks on his face. 



Taking away the Boys. — Early in the morning which has been 

 decided upon for taking the boys away, the head men proceed to 

 the sacred ring and hold a discussion as to the most convenient 

 place to remove the main camp to. The place proposed by the 

 tribe which has brought the greatest number of boys is generally 

 agreed upon, provided it is otherwise suitable. When this point 

 is settled, they all go back along the track in single tile to the 

 large ring, from which they disperse to their several camps. All 

 the women and children are then gathered up close to the ring, 

 and the painting of the novices is proceeded with. 



The men who are to take charge of the ceremonies in the bush 

 go away again to the small ring and paint their bodies jet black 

 with powdered charcoal, or the bark of certain trees charred in 

 the tire. The two men who are to use the bullroarers also see 

 that the strings of these instruments are in good order. 



The painting of the novices is done by the mothers and sisters 

 of each boy. He is painted all over with red ochre and grease ; 

 even the hair of his head, and also his rug, are painted red. One 

 of the novice's male relatives then comes forward and fastens a 

 belt around his waist, to which are attached two tails or kilts, 

 one before and one behind. He is then conducted into the ring, 

 and is placed sitting down on the embankment — the boys of each 

 tribe being placed by themselves on that side of the ring which 

 is nearest their own country. The mother and sisters of each 

 novice are just outside the embankment, sitting in such a 

 position as just to be able to touch him with their feet. All the 

 women and children are told to lie down and keep still, and are- 

 then covered over with rugs and bushes, which had been cut and 

 placed in readiness for the purpose. 



